Picker stick



March .23 419265. E. MCCRAW PICKER STICK FledSept. 2Q, 1922 l 10 all w71 om it may concern.'

Federated Mar. Z3, 1926.

unirse s'rA'rss PATENT OFFICE.

PICKER STICK.

Application led September 20, 1922. Serial' No. 589,389.

Be it known that I, EDWARD MCCRAW, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of North Adams, county of Berkshire, and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Picker Sticks, of which the following is a specification.

In looms, it is desirable that the picker stick be capable of yielding to some extent to prevent breakage when caught by the shuttle or other part of the loom. lVhen the picker sticks are made of wood they are easily broken and have not the desired resiliency. Metal sticks as heretofore made have been too heavy and non-resilient.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved picker stick and holder which is light in weight, which has the desired resiliency, and which is simple, durable and inexpensive. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the stick and holder;

Fig. 2 is a same;

Fig. 3 is another longitudinal section of the same; i

Fig. 4i is a transverse section through the same at the guide;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the same at the limiting block; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the saine at the bearing block.

Fig. 7 is a. detail of modified structure.

In the illustrated embodiment, a strip of metal, such as of brass or sheet steel, is bent into the shape of a U, and an open ended box f3 is secured between the free ends of the arms of the U in a suit-able manner such as by rivets 3, with the open ends of the box facing endwise of the U. A bearing block i is secured between the arms of the U and adjacent the base of the U in a suitable manner such as by rivets or bolts 5. The block is provided with an aperture 6 through which a pivot shaft or pin (not shown) may pass for pivotally supporting the U for oscillation or rotation in the plane of the arms thereof. The U-shaped strip, the bearing block, and the open Vended box, together.

longitudinal` section of the form a holder ,for a picker stick 7 whichv may be of wood or other suitable material and is slidablev endwise through the box 2 between the arms of the strip l.

A metal band 8 embraces the arms of the U intermediate their ends, and is slidable thereon from end to end. A limiting biock 9 is secured in a suitable manner such as by screws l0, to the band 8 between the arms of the strip l so as to be movable lengthwise of the holder with the band. The inner end of' the picker stick 7 abuts against the block 9, which limits its inward movement and Athereby determines the effective length of the picker stick. A set screw l1 carried by the band 8 is adapted to engage with one of the side arms of the holder and hold the band and limiting block in various adjusted positions along the holder.

In use, the holder is mounted in the usual manner and the picker stick is inserted through the guide device formed by the open ended box. The stick is shifted endwise in the guide device until the inner end abuts against the limiting block, the adjusted position of the block determining the extent to which the picker stick vwill project from the holder and thereby its effective length. If, for any reason, the picker stick becomes caught during the operation of the loo-m, the holder formed of the metal strip will yield, or iiex to some extent, which prevents breakage of the` picker stick. At the same time the holder has sufficient rigidity, and is exceedingly simple, light, durable and inexpensive.

It will be apparent that various changes in the details and arrangements of parts may be made by those skilled in the art, within the principle and scope of the invention. vFor example, while the 7 is shown reaching down to the block 9, obviously other means may be provided for supporting the stick. Thus a pin or bolt such as shown at 5, if inserted across thel sides l at any point above the position of the block, would furnish a support upon which the end of the stick would rest, and accordingly a shorter stick 7 could be used. Similarly the box 2 could have its lower end rovidedwith a bottom 2a as shown in Fig. g, thus forming a pocket, into l which the end of a picker stick of minimum length 'would be inserted.

I claim:

1. In a. loom, a holder having a bearing adjacent one end by which 1t can be pvotpicker stick ally mounted, and a guide device at the other end, a picker stick slidably mounted in said guide device for movement lengthwise ot' the holder, and means comprising a block slidably adjustable along the holder for limiting movement oi the picker stick in said holder.

2. In a loom, a holder having a bearing block by which it can be pivotall-y mounted at one end, a Iguide device at the other end, and a pair of metal strips connecting the bearing block and guide device, and unconnected with one another between the guide device and bearing block, and a picker stick slidable endwise through the guide device and between the metal strips.

ln a loom, a holder having a bearing block by which it can be pivotally mounted at one end, a guide device at the other end, and a pair or metal strips connecting the bearing bloclr and guide device and otherwise unconnected with one another between the device and block, and a pic-ker stick passing through the guide device and between the metal strips.

4. ln a loom, a holder having a bearing block by which it can be pivotally mounted at one end, a guide device at the other end, and a pair ot' metal strips connecting the bearing block and guide device and unconnected with one another between the guide device and bea-ring block, a picker stick slidable endwise through the guide device and between the metal strips, and means carried by the holder for variably limiting the sliding movement.

5. In a loom, a holder having a bearing block by which it can be pivotally mounted at one end, a guide device at the other end, and a` pair ot metal' strips connecting the bearing block and guide device, and unconnected with one another between the guide device and bearing block, a picker stick slidable endwise through they guide device and between the metal strips, and means slidably adjustable along the metal strips for limiting the inward position of the picker stick in said holder.

6. In a loom, a holder having a bearing block by which it can be pivotally mounted at one end, a guide device at the other end, and a pair ot metal strips connecting` the bearing block and guide device, a picker stick slidable end-wise through the guide device and between the metal strips, a band embracing and adjustable along the strips for limiting the inward movement ot the picker stick in said holder, and means for clamping the band to said strips.

7. In a loom, a pivoted picker stick holder having a loop guide at its free end, a picker stick elidable in the loop ot said guide lengthwise of the holder, and a stop member adjustably carried by the holder for limiting the movement of' the stick in said holder.

8. In a loom, a bearing block, a guide device, a pair of spring strips connecting' said block and guide device to form a holder capable of fleXure in the plane of oscillation, and a picker stick carried by the saidv guide device between the strips.

9. In a loom, a bearing block, a guide device, a pair ot spring strips connecting said block and guide device to form a holdercapable ot tlexure in the plane of oscillation', a picker stick adjustable in said guide device between the strips to. vary the effective flexibility of saidl strips, and means carried by the strips for limiting the inward movement of the stick in saidV holder.

10. In aloom, a bearing block, a guide device, a pair of spring strips connecting said block and guide device to form a holderV capable of exufre in the plane of oscillation, a picker stick adjustable in said guide device between the strips, and a stop member adjustable along the strips :tor limiting the inward movement of the stick.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD MoCRAlV. 

